Smirnoff Ice Flavors, Ranked from Worst to Best

There are way more Smirnoff Ice flavors than I ever imagined. Sure, I knew about the pink lemonade version. And maybe I’d seen a green apple in passing. But I tasted 16 different Smirnoff Ice flavors for this ranking! That’s a lot! And it shows the staying power of the malt liquor brand, which has been alive and kicking since 1999. Yes, you could have soothed your Y2K fears with a Smirnoff Ice. That’s how long it’s been around. 

How did we taste all these Smirnoff Ice flavors?

We chilled the cans and bottles down in the fridge, poured them out into tiny cups, and drank them. We started with the original Smirnoff and worked our way through the variations, leaving the booziest Smirnoff Ice Smash flavors for last. 

How did we evaluate the best Smirnoff Ice flavors?

We wanted balanced flavors—not too crazy sweet, not super sour. And we also wanted some hint of the original lemon-lime Smirnoff flavor to shine through. Primarily, though, we wanted the best Smirnoff Ice flavor to be so good we could actually see ourselves finishing a whole bottle or can. 

Because some Smirnoff Ice flavors are only available in variety packs, we had to treat those packs as singular products. (Unfortunate news for the Smirnoff Ice Shaved Ice flavor, which rocks, but, because it’s only available in the Sunny Days variety pack, couldn’t be featured in its rightful place within the top three.) 

Did we get “Iced?”

Yes, we did. My colleague Emily Fleming and I were Iced by our producer, Logan. Because we are products of our past (we were both sorority gals), we dutifully knelt and chugged our bottles. Please, do not try that at home. The Smirnoff Ice flavors in this list are ranked from worst to best by how they taste when sipped—not chugged. Stick to sipping. 

Smirnoff Ice flavors, ranked worst to best

Pink Lemonade

Smirnoff Ice Pink Lemonade

Instacart

This Smirnoff Ice flavor definitely tastes pink, that’s for sure. But instead of tasting like pink lemonade, it mostly tastes like pink dye. It reminds me a bit of if you splashed some pool water into a glass of Country Time pink lemonade. Not my favorite!

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

3/10

Sporks

Green Apple

Smirnoff Ice Green Apple

Total Wine

While the initial sip of this Smirnoff Ice flavor intrigued us with its tart, candied green apple flavor, it is simply too much like liquified Jolly Ranchers. I could never finish a whole bottle of this. I probably couldn’t finish half a bottle. And it lacks any flavor of the original Smirnoff Ice.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

5/10

Sporks

Smash Pink Lemonade

Smirnoff Ice Smash Pink Lemonade

Instacart

What’s the difference between regular Smirnoff Ice Pink Lemonade Smirnoff Ice Smash Pink Lemonade? The Smash is nearly twice as strong, coming in at 8% ABV. Advertised as raspberry and lemonade, together in one can, this still doesn’t taste great. I can’t say I can detect any distinct raspberry flavor. But it’s somewhat less chemically than the classic pink lemonade Smirnoff Ice flavor. And, since it’s 8% ABV, you don’t have to drink as much.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

5/10

Sporks

Smash Screwdriver

Smirnoff Ice Smash Screwdriver

Total Wine

One of the first cocktails I ever made was a Screwdriver. I was underage (please don’t travel back in time and tell the cops in 2001) and it was bad. I have since enjoyed good Screwdrivers, made with the correct ratio of vodka to (preferably good quality) orange juice. Anyway, a sip of this Smirnoff Ice Smash flavor made me feel quite nostalgic for that first Screwdriver. It really tastes like a fizzy Screwdriver made by a teenager.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

5.5/10

Sporks

Smash Red, White & Berry

Smirnoff Ice Smash Red, White & Berry

Total Wine

The amped-up, boozier version of the Red, White & Berry you get in the Sunny Days mixed pack, is also the better version. Somehow, it tastes stronger—as in, you taste the alcohol more—but it’s also more subtle. The super-sweet blue popsicle flavor of the regular Red, White & Blue is tamed by the alcohol. If you’re looking for a Smirnoff Ice flavor that tastes like “blue,” this is the best flavor of Smirnoff Ice for you.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Neon Lemonade Pack

Smirnoff Ice Neon Lemonade

Instacart

Here’s what you get in the Neon Lemonade mixed pack of Smirnoff Ice flavors: Peach Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Blue Raspberry Lemonade, and Pineapple Lemonade. The Peach Lemonade tastes like peach rings with a zip of lemonade—it’s sweet but not totally saccharine. The Pink Lemonade is better than the Pink Lemonade in the bottle, though it’s reminiscent of something you might buy at Bath & Body Works. The Pineapple Lemonade is tropical and sweet. And the Blue Raspberry Lemonade tastes like blue raspberry candy with just enough of a lemonade flavor to remind you you’re not just drinking a melted lollipop. Overall, this mixed pack is totally fine. Everything is definitely on the sweet side, though, so make sure your pals can handle their sugar.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Sunny Days Pack

Smirnoff Ice Sunny Days

Walmart

This mixed pack of frozen treat-themed Smirnoff Ice flavors includes four options: Lemon Shaved Ice, Orange Cream Pop, Red, White & Berry, and Cosmic Snow Cone. If you’re presented with these options (or if you buy this case for a party), make sure to grab the Lemon Shaved Ice first. It’s so good. If you could get it on its own, you’d see Smirnoff Ice Lemon Shaved Ice near the very top of this list. It’s like a more lemony version of classic Smirnoff Ice. The Orange Cream Pop is worth a taste, too. It’s faithful to that creamsicle flavor profile—sweet and creamy and citrusy. And then you get the two so-so Smirnoff Ice flavors. The Red, White & Berry, as noted above, tastes like a blue popsicle. It’s fine, if a bit sweet. And the Cosmic Snow Cone tastes like classic lip-staining red fruit punch. Buy this pack for the Lemon Shaved Ice. Donate the rest.

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Smash Peach + Mango

Smirnoff Ice Smash Peach + Mango

Total Wine

Artificial peach and mango can often taste very similar, but you actually get both in this Smirnoff Ice flavor. It’s sweet, for sure, but gently sweet, with just a hint of zippy lemonade. If you’re looking for the best Smirnoff flavor that packs a boozy punch, this is the Smirnoff Ice Smash to buy.

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Screwdriver

Smirnoff Ice Screwdriver

Total Wine

This is the best flavor of Smirnoff Ice to enjoy at brunch. Unlike the Smash version of the Screwdriver, this one is much more balanced and goes down like a dream. Yes, it tastes a bit like Emergen-C or Sunny D, but it’s still bright and refreshing. And you still can taste some lemon-lime Smirnoff Ice in the mix. If you aren’t going with the original, this is the Smirnoff Ice to snag. 

Credit: Merc / Total Wine

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Original

Smirnoff Ice Original

Instacart

I’m sorry, but Smirnoff Ice Original truly is the best flavor of Smirnoff Ice. It’s been around since the turn of the century for a reason! It’s light. It’s bright. It’s lemonadey. It barely tastes like alcohol. It is sweet and tart and dangerously easy to drink. If you haven’t had a Smirnoff Ice in a while, give it a try. I think you’ll find it tastes better than a lot of the fancy canned cocktails on the market right now.

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks